Voter Registration in North Dakota

North Dakota bears the unique distinction of not requiring voters to register prior to Election Day. You may simply bring acceptable proof of ID and residency to the polls in order to vote (see below). Each precinct is responsible for governing its own election process, and the Secretary of State has a "central voter file" in which all county auditors share their precinct's voter list.

Voter Eligibility in North Dakota

In order to vote in North Dakota, you must be:

At least 18 years old by Election Day.

A North Dakota resident.

A resident of your voter precinct for at least 30 days prior to the election.

When you arrive at the polls on Election Day, you'll need to show proof of birth date and residency. This can include:

A North Dakota driver's license or ID card.

An ID issued by a tribal government.

A form of identification issued by the Secretary of State.

A combination of the options above.

Once you have voted for the first time, your name will be entered into the state's central voter file within 45 days.

Out-of-State Voter Registration

If you are in the military and stationed outside of North Dakota, a dependent of military personnel, or a U.S. citizen who lives overseas, you can complete an absentee ballot application online or by mail.

To complete the application online, simply log onto the North Dakota Secretary of State (SOS) website.

You will need to enter:

Your name.

Your ND address.

Your mailing address.

Online applications will automatically be sent to your county auditor.